So how do you use macros in Google Sheets? To get started, accessible a spreadsheet in your browser and bang Tools > Macros > Record macro. A new macro pop-up window will arise and instantly activate recording. Now, assignment through the accomplish of your task, aloof as you would back accomplishing the operations normally. Finally, bang Save to abundance it or Cancel to abandon it.

As the macro records, you’ll apprehension two options on screen: Use complete references and Use about references (an arrow abutting to them can appearance or adumbrate these options). If you aces the former, afresh the macro will run from the aforementioned abode in the spreadsheet every time, but if you accept the latter, the macro will run from whichever corpuscle is currently highlighted. Here’s an example: Say you capital to about-face the top row of a spreadsheet blush every time the macro ran. In that case, you would use complete references, back you consistently appetite the top row to be the one that changes color. However, if you capital to pink-ify the corpuscle to the larboard of the currently-selected one, you would charge about references.

Once you save your macro, you’ll charge to accord it a name, and you’ll get the advantage to accredit it a keyboard shortcut. In accession to the keyboard shortcut, you can run any macro from the Tools > Macros submenu. From that aforementioned submenu, hit Manage macros to change a adored script’s name or keyboard shortcut. You can additionally bang the three dots to the appropriate to annul a macro or to appearance it in the Google Script Editor. If you’re acquirements some coding basics, examination the cipher for a macro will advice you amount out which commands accomplish which actions.

The aboriginal time you try to run a macro in Sheets, Google will ask you to assurance in afresh and to accord permission. That’s because these snippets of cipher can be acclimated for awful purposes—like deleting a accomplished spreadsheet of data. Before you do admittance the macro to run, double-check that it’s one you’ve created yourself.